Website recommendation

There is an online tool called youversion.com... not only is it an internet Bible with several versions for readying but it also allows you to journal thoughts and even access other users journals and commentaries on specific passages and scriptures. By signing up (for free), you can collaborate and access other tools posted by readers (including pics and youtube videos) that will help in your study and growth in the Word of God. There is even a mobile version that you can access for your phone. I am enjoying this site and learning more about the tools it offers...go check it out!

Youversion is run by Lifechurch.tv

Customer Service - Part 2

Ever wonder about tipping? Now, I am all for "great" tipping your waiter/ waitress in the restaurant, especially when the service and food has combined for an excellent experience. I am even for "good" tipping when things are not perfect, because I realize that 1. I also am not perfect and 2.this person probably has kids or others who are depending on tips, as the base pay is usually just that...

But what about when the service, food, and experience is REALLY bad? Do you skimp the tip to teach a lesson or skip the tip all together?

What about tipping the person making your coffee? Is it more work (and thus more "tip worthy") to make a specialty coffee at Starbucks or is the Dunkin Donut coffee just as deserving?

What about tipping when you order take-out? At Olive Garden, I have to go in to the bar to pay and pick up...does the bartender need a tip? At Applebees, they bring it to my car...do they need a tip for bringing it out?

Does the fact that a place for the tip is on your reciept demand that you need to leave a tip? And, if you don't, how are you looked upon by the community of tip demanders? You see, there is so much that needs to be discussed in this area!

Here is something funny to consider as we end this post..."Why tip someone for a job I'm capable of doing myself? I can deliver food. I can drive a taxi. I can, and do, cut my own hair. I did however, tip my urologist, because I am unable to pulverize my own kidney stones." - Dwight K. Shrute

Customer Service - Part 1

In this first post, I want to talk about the idea of customer service and begin with asking this question..."why does it have to be so hard to get good service?". I mean, the people who are consumers are mostly human. The people doing the service are also, mostly human. In fact, the people doing the service will clock out and become consumers themselves, being served by other people who are also, mostly human.

So, with so much in common, why is it so hard to have good customer experiences? Why is it so rare to leave a store where everything went great that you even tell your friends about it? Why, more often then not, are you tempted to leave what you just spent a ton of time looking for and just walk out of the store (and you would, except you really need those diapers!).

I am going to share some experiences that illustrate what I have been thinking and experiencing. But let me share a story I heard recently from Guy. He and his family were up in Gatlinburg, Tn and wanted to order some pizza for delivery. The order was taken and delivery was promised. Over a period of time (much longer then promised), Guy calls to check on pizza status...more promises and waiting result. Finally, Guy offers to go and pick it up himself and is told "awesome, give us 15 minutes". Upon arriving, the pizza has yet to be made (seriously??) and the place is a madhouse. They then tell Guy that he can't cancel his order and proceed to charge his credit card (for no pizza and broken promises). If you know Guy at all...this means war! He spends extra time and effort, disputing the bill with his credit card and tracking down the store people to sign off on the dispute. He contacts the pizza place and discovers it has a new manager and receives somewhat of an apology for the problem/incident. The new manager says something to the effect "I hope we can get your business again in the future."

Now, would you go there again? Would you even give them another chance? I think I can find another pizza place pretty easily!

When I heard this story, I responded, "if that was me (meaning the new manager), I would have said...I hope we can get your business again. In fact, I am sending (or personally bringing) a free pizza to your place right now as a sign that we value you and are sorry for the experience you had."

Would this cost too much money? Wouldn't it be worth it to gain back a customer?

By the way, since you made it this far, want to remind you that today at McDonalds is free chicken biscuit in the morning and free chicken sandwich for lunch or dinner...just tell them you want the jeremyhigdon.com freebie...actually, I think you need to purchase a drink!

Catching up...

here are some things that have been happening lately...
- finished up the message for our last week of the teaching series called "The Classics"...this one is on Samson...did you know he had samsonella? Really!
-working on a message for next week's new series called "Going Green"...got some good stuff percolating about being a good manager of our resources...
- working on some exciting things in our future that we will start unveiling in the next month or so...
- can't believe the death toll of the Myanmar cyclone and the China earthquake...most of us Americans are more concerned about gas prices and political primaries then these two events...does that make sense to you? As mentioned here, you can contact samaritanspurse.org to donate to help with food and supplies for the survivors.
- more Floriduh...not only is gas expensive, but apparantly it works best when you put it in the right place!
- been riding my Wal-mart bike (I actually got it cheaper at store in Pines) the last few days (actually five out of last seven) about 4.5 miles each time...part of an effort to get more fit and to use what God has given me...you don't use it, you can lose it!
- had a good Mother's Day this past Sunday...love teaching the boys to honor their mom (who I think is awesome!), loved having my mom come over for dinner with dad and Jonathan, and love having Jeanine's mom at our casa this week...I am proud of the moms in my life!
- this coming weekend, got my family coming in from Jacksonville for a big birthday party for my nephew Tyler...he is gonna be two!
- was going to write about the Marlins being the best in baseball but they have since lost two in a row...do you think even thinking that thought has jinxed them? Oh well, if so, it was fun while it lasted!
- Summer is coming...this past week, it has been hot, hot, hot...it hit 96 degrees already...wow!
- I am posting over the next few days on customer service...the good, the bad, and the you know...be sure to check back and leave your comments and your own stories!

Is this going to be my kids?

Probably not...but I think Guy's grandkids will probably do this!

People God Uses - Part 6

I found a little booklet while cleaning out the old offices in North Miami. It is entitled "Why God Used D.L. Moody". I was interested in reading it as it was written by R.A. Torrey and is about (obviously) the reasons why this evangelist lived such a powerful life and seeks to find out if God can still work powerfully through people today. I am going to share a section of this book over the next few days....

The sixth reason, attributed to D.L. Moody, as to why God used him in such a huge way, was that he had a consuming passion for the salvation of the lost. In fact, soon after he became a Christ-follower, he resolved to not let a 24 hour period go by where he did not share the message of the gospel with someone. Being busy like us, Torrey said there were times that at the end of the day, maybe even having to get out of bed and get dressed, that Moody would go and find someone to witness about Jesus.

"Once, when walking down a certain street in Chicago, Mr. Moody stepped up to a man, a perfect stranger to him, and said; 'Sir, are you a Christian?' 'You mind your business,' was the reply. Mr. Moody replied; 'This is my business.' The man said, 'Well, then, you must be Moody." Out in Chicago they used to call him in those early days "Crazy Moody", because day and night he was speaking to everybody he got a chance to speak to about being saved. "

I know this is something I need to work on and have God birth in me a genuine desire and fire and passion for those around me that don't know Him. How bout you? Are you willing to be called crazy for telling others about the One who saves?

Ever have one of those days...

where everything seemed to work out? Really enjoyed that today... got to relax with my awesome wife and two amazing boys. We have been pretty crazy the last few weeks with our schedule so today was really nice. Filled up the kiddie pool with water and enjoyed Zach getting everybody wet. He had to use the bathroom so he peed outside (later on he asked if he could "pee in the dirt again"...sorry bud, that is only for extreme circumstances!

We ran some errands including getting Zachary a haircut...he was awesome with no crying or anything...a real haircut pro! Notice he is holding a car in his hand...never leave home without one!

After the cut, we went next door and had a Sonny's famous hoagie (Jeanine's first time). Wow, that was great!

Got home, put Ryan to bed for a quick nap, grabbed one myself, got up and fed Ryan some dinner, hung out for our usual evening and got them both to bed by 8pm (we have started a "no nap" policy for Zach...he is asleep at night in no time!). Enjoyed a meal and chatting with my wife and then got the bike out for a 30 minute ride, listening to U2 "Rattle and Hum"...what a great day! Really grateful to God for all the enjoyable moments of life...every day is a gift!